Guidelines for New Parents in the Special Care Nursery
Welcome to The Credit Valley Hospital
Special Care Nursery. This is a unit designed for the care of moderate to
low-risk newborns. Although we have the experience and equipment to stabilize
high-risk infants born here, they are transferred to a Level 3 (high-risk) nursery as
quickly as possible.
Your first visit may be at a time of great stress. Your baby is not well, and needs extra attention. Priorities in the first hours include making sure your baby is warm, pink, breathing well on his/her own or with assistance, and maintaining an adequate blood sugar level. The nurse assigned to your baby will answer any questions you have, as soon as the information becomes available. Until the test results are ready, here is some general information about the unit:
Transfers from a Level 3 Facility
Congratulations! Your baby has graduated! Your baby no longer needs the intensive care he/she received at birth. Our unit can easily meet your baby's needs for growth and health.
The upset of the transfer may make your baby unstable for the first 2 to 3 days. It is quite common for apneas, bradycardias, feeding disturbances and lethargy to occur. Please be patient - when the initial upset is over, your baby will be ready to pick up where he/she left off.
You may notice different ways of caring for your baby, compared to the other unit. We encourage you to learn more than one way to care for your baby. This will allow you to choose which way is best for you and your family at home.
Now that your baby is more stable, we will be constantly adjusting our care to challenge his/her abilities to prepare for the earliest discharge home. We will use your baby's cues to tell us when we can keep challenging or whether we need to slow down. Please feel free to ask for updates on your baby's progress - and expect some setbacks!
The Care Team
A primary nurse is assigned to each baby. She works closely with the medical team to plan, implement and make recommendations for your baby's care. When the primary nurse is not on duty, an associate nurse or other member of the care team will be assigned.
Each doctor reviews their Special Care Nursery patients daily. An on-call doctor is also available to deal with emergency changes in a baby's condition. If you have any questions or concerns about your baby's condition or care, we encourage you to meet with your baby's doctor.
Other health care providers, such as a Social Worker, Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Lactation Consultant and other support staff may be involved in the plan of care.
You, the parents are the most important members of the care team. We strongly encourage you to ask questions and seek clarification. And don't forget - we are open 24 hours a day, so if you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to call! The unit direct line is 905-813-3945.
Baby Care
Each time you enter the Special Care Nursery, please leave your coat/outer clothes in the cloak area, and wash your hands at the outer sink. Practicing consistent handwashing before handling your baby is essential to your baby's health.
The nurse assigned to your baby will assist you with basic newborn care until you feel comfortable taking over. Feel free to bring in clothing, linen, a toy, and pictures for your baby.
Breastfeeding
We encourage mothers to breastfeed. If your baby is too ill to go to the breast, we will be glad to instruct you in the use of the breast pump. Please talk to your baby's assigned nurse, or your nurse in the post-partum unit. Building a milk supply while your baby is too ill to suck will require pumping every 3 to 4 hours, even at night. If you have difficulties with breastfeeding or pumping, a Lactation Consultant is available to provide additional help. Please inform your baby's nurse if you are taking any medication.
Visiting
Parents are encouraged to visit at any time, except between 7:15 - 7:45 a.m. and p.m.
This is our shift change and the information discussed at this time is confidential.
For the security of your baby, visitors must be accompanied by the baby's parent. Only one visitor is allowed at a time. By request, "Grandparent Passes" are available, which allow grandparents to visit unaccompanied by a parent. Grandparents must bring the pass with them for each visit and may not bring other visitors with them.
Siblings may visit; however, other children under the age of 10 are not permitted.
To protect the privacy of each patient, parents and visitors are asked to remain at their baby's bedside.
Please inform staff if visitors have been exposed to any COMMUNICABLE DISEASES during the past month (specifically chicken pox, hepatitis, measles, mumps, rubella, or whooping cough) or if you currently have a cold (i.e. cough, sore throat, fever), vomiting, diarrhea, rash, itchy skin, or an infection of an kind.
There may be instances when visitors are asked to leave. The nurse will advise you if this occurs.
Parking
A day pass may be purchased for $8.50. This will allow unlimited enter/exit privilege for one day. These passes are available at the EXIT parking booth in the parking lot.
If you are coming to the hospital more frequently, a parking pass may be purchased for $60 per month, plus a $10 deposit. Monthly passes are available from the Cashier's Office by the main entrance.
Administration
The day-to-day care of your baby is organized by highly trained professional nurses. If you have concerns that you are not able to discuss with the nurse, you can call the Nurse Manager. The Nurse Manager is available Monday to Friday, at varied hours. Please call 905-813-2200, ext. 6386 to book an appointment. If the Nurse Manager is unavailable, please leave your name and telephone number with the Unit and she will return your call as soon as possible.
Good luck, and congratulations on the birth of your beautiful baby!
Please feel free to spend time in the Hospital Library, located just off the main entrance lobby, down the hall to the right of the Gift Shoppe. Books and videos relating to newborns and preemies are available for your use in the Library. The Library is open Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you need any assistance, the Library Technician will be glad to help you.